July's Chamber Member of the Month: American Metal Works

There’s a place up Stone Coal Road in Pikeville that’s a well-kept secret, and it’s about time they get the spotlight. It’s a business called American Metal Works and they have the crazy ability to take a solid hunk of metal and use Computer Numerical Control (CNC) mills, plasma cutting, laser engraving, anodizing, powder-coating and sand blasting, to make it into whatever size and shape their customers need. You’d be surprised by their complete versatility of having such amazing technology and capabilities, and you’ll be hearing about some of these amazing things American Metal Works is up to! But I also want to shine a light on some of the amazing people who work there, because that’s what makes this place so special.

We’ll start with Denny Rohrer, the co-owner. When I first met Denny, it was at church on a Sunday morning shortly after I moved here. He was in charge of having coffee, juice and donuts ready for everyone after the service, and being the warm and friendly person he is, spotted me from across the way and motioned me over to get a cup of coffee he had freshly brewed. I accepted the cup, we introduced, and once he learned I was new to the area, he made absolutely sure to welcome me into my new community by inviting me to different church events and introducing me to some pretty great people.

Denny Rohrer is the type of person who truly cares about people, and that translates into his work and how he treats his customers. He is willing to go above and beyond for them, to the point of personally driving hundreds of miles to ensure the safe delivery of a very delicate, very important product.  That’s just who he is.

Next, we have Chris Everage. He’s worked with Denny for 19 years, starting out as a young man straight out of high school with such an incredible work ethic and willingness to learn, that he’s now their lead guy. Chris programs and codes the software that tells the CNC’s what to do, and he has a reputation around the shop as being someone who knows what to do to get things done. And if he doesn’t, then he’s going to make certain that he’ll find a way, and he’ll be quick about it, too.

Something I picked up on while I visited American Metal Works to write this piece is the amount of love and respect that freely flows between everyone there. Denny never has a bad word to say about anybody, and to take it a step further, he is quick to praise.  Here’s what he told me about Chris: “He’s such a good programmer that I’d match him up with just about anybody. He will always find a faster and more accurate way to do something. He’s just an amazing person.” There was so much love in the air, you could have cut it with a knife!

So let’s talk more about what exactly it is these great guys over at American Metal Works do with their CNC equipment. Their main goal is to support other businesses, especially those in this region, and to ensure partnerships over competition. Building and maintaining close relationships with local companies such as Appalachian Tank, for example, is important to Denny and his business partners, Chris Everage and James Glass, because collaboration ensures that everyone succeeds, not just one over the other.

James, Chris, and Denny have it figured out that they can win by helping others. By being able to make parts for Appalachian Tank, Appalachian Tank is then able to make quality product for their customers. It’s a symbiotic relationship because the approach is that they are on the same team, not competitors. I look at it as a basketball game where AMW makes the assist for Appalachian Tank to make the slam dunk. Everybody wins this way.

They help their community in other ways, too. Recently, American Metal Works partnered with Pikeville Police Department to make safety locks that will be installed on the inside of classroom doors at Mullins School to protect students in the event of a security issue. AMW provided the metal cut to spec, Pikeville inmates did the welding, and then went back to AMW to be powder coated and finished before being installed at Mullins. So not only are they helping kids stay safe, but also helping inmates gain valuable employable skills once they are released. It’s just amazing all that AMW does, and we’re not even done yet! Don’t get me started on the parts they make for medical lab equipment. When I said they were versatile, I meant it!

With this versatility, Chris and his wife, Janet, have American Metal Custom Creations, which has grown out of American Metal Works to serve the local community, where they make decorative yard signs, illuminated business signs, you name it! They have a whole catalog of designs to choose from, but as Chris says, “If you can imagine it, we can make it.” Follow them on Facebook at @AmericanMetalCustomCreations to see all the designs, and they will even work with you to help you create something truly unique!

Quality control is tantamount to this whole operation. CNC mills are accurate within 1/1,000 of an inch, which is about 4x smaller than the width of a single strand of hair. The process of anodizing uses an acid bath and electricity to create a protective coating on the metal without adding anything to its surface. Because of these abilities to be perfect within less than a hair’s width, the guys at AMW are incredibly thorough. The workshop stays clean and well organized, they are very careful with packaging, NOTHING leaves the shop unless it meets the customer’s exact specs and their high standard for perfection.

Having such high standards show exactly how much they care about their business, each other, their customers, and the product they put out. I’m proud to know Denny and the gang, because like I said, there’s a lot of love that flows through American Metal Works and American Metal Custom Creations. So now that the secret’s out, show them some of your love! You can visit their website at www.amwus.com, give them a follow on Facebook, or call the shop at 606.432.6970.
 

Once a month, the Southeast Kentucky Chamber spotlights one Member business as a free promotion.  If your business is interested in being highlighted, please reach out to Katie Belt at 606.432.5504 or katie@sekchamber.com